Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-06

in addition to the special appropriation OF $4,000
for removing caterpillar webs, or 81, 900 in all.
COUNTY ROADS AND SUBURBAN STREETS.
After giving an account OF the expenditure OF
the appropriation Of $4,000 for current repairs to
county roads and suburban streets the report
says the total number OF miles OF such roads and
streets is 1925. The appropriation amounted to
each 10 feet OF road. 1t is manlfestly impossible
to keep all the roads In good condition and con-
struct new roads with such small outlay.
Capt. Greene says in his annual report 1884:
San idea OF the cost OF good driving roads may be
obtained from the experience OF the Soldiers
Home, where 1t costs about $40 900 year TO MAIN
tain about miles OF roads, or 81 600 per mile"
The amount of work required under this head.
and frequently demanded as absolutely neces-
sary is out OF all proportion to the sum apprO-
prated, and it is constant struggle to meet the
wants and necessities OF suburban residents
Earth roads cannot be expected TO remain in good
condition during the winter and spring months
and at times will become almost impossible vet
! the matchmaking OF all the county roads is an
Immense undertaking, requiring years for its COM
pletiOn.
The proper expenditure of this appropriation Is
one OF the many perpleXing problems which this
separate appropriations have been made for soon
struction" and maintenance" division which
naturally suggestsdtself as advantageolls however
the problem may be viewed.
CONSTRUCTION.
The method OF construction heretofore In vogue
and which was followed during the year 1857.
consisted in macadamizing the roadway for a
width OF IA feet in the center; finishing the sides
with gravel for summer traffic. This arrange
| ment seems to give general satisfaction and is
| economical. CObble cutters three or four feet in
| width have generally been laid on the most i'm
portant roads. They define the lines of the road
| give good finish, and prevent the formation OF
Side gullieS but for their legitimate use as side
drains they are only required in exceptional
cases. The width OF the roadway proper varies
| from 30 to 40 feet. The metal (brOken Stone two
and Onehaf inches in size is laid In Two courses
to total depth OF ten inches and finished with
| a layer OF two inches Of gravel Each course is
thoroughly rolled with horse roller weighing five
tons.
prlatiOn available for constructing roads should
| be expended in the procurement OF the best and
necessary obtain proper grades or to remove un-
suitable material the Old roadbed is the best OBJ
tainable as basis for macadam pavement. 1t is
better packed than 1t is possible to roll new sur
face; it affords good drainage facilities, ana it
saves the cost OF excavating, which is an import
ant item where, as is usually the case it has been
deemed necessary to grade down sufficiently to
! bring the new road surface to the same level as
the Old. In some cases the latter method may be
necessary but in general it will be sufficient to
| trim the existing surface and I'LL the ruts. This
method was followed on the Bladensburg road
| and Bennings roads dufing the present year re-
! sulting in great saving on the item OF grading
After discussing the question or the best fOunda-
ton for roads, capt. Griffin states that as our
| county roads are only partially macadamized a
| good crown is necessary for proper and ecOnOmt-
| cal maintenance. He recommends that the fol-
lowing be adopted for roadway 40 feet WIDE lon
gttudinal slope: Exceeding in 1OO inches; from
to in 100, 10Y inches; less than = In loo, l3K
inches and for u roadway 33 feet wide, crown OF
8, ., or IL inches respectively: II is generally
agreed that trap rock is the best material
| road surfaces This rock cannot be obtained in
this vicinity, and by experience it has been ascer-
tanned that white flint or quartz rock Is the best
| substitute at hand The experiment Will be tried
| OF having trap rock crushed TO proper size and
freed from all dust shipped from New York.
| MAINTENANCE.
The patrol repair system was inaugurated early
in May, 1887, substantially as recommended In
Capt. Gr1n1ns last annual report The appropria.
ton for repairs to county roads and suburban
streets, 1878, was, however, reduced to $25 600
ana It was found necessary In July TO curtail the
number OF r0ad-keepers to such an extent that II
is impossible as yet to 'orm any correct Judgmen,
concerning the success OF the experiment. Tit
principal difficulty seems to be the procurement
OF reliable men, men who can be trusted to rende
fair return for wages received when subjected II
SO little supervision as IS necessarily thu
case with road-keepers. This dif1culty once over
come, it will be possible to permanently establish
this system for all the important roads. II Is un
| QueSuiOnabiy the most satisfactory and cheapeS
system OF maintenance. Statements are given Q